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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBelow is the full report presented by the Chairman of AKEP, Mr. Gentian Sala:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fulfillment of the obligation of institutional accountability to the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, we present today the annual report on the activities of the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP) for the year 2025. The report provides a consolidated overview of the Authority’s activities during the reporting period, highlighting the regulatory and supervisory measures undertaken, the progress made in achieving strategic objectives, and AKEP\u2019s contribution to ensuring the sustainable development of electronic communications and postal service markets\u2014aimed at promoting effective competition, protecting the public interest, and aligning with the European Union’s regulatory framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, electronic communications and postal services constitute some of the most critical infrastructures for economic development, the functioning of institutions, and the daily lives of citizens. In this context, expectations regarding service quality have risen significantly, while the market is characterized by fierce competition, rapid technological innovation, and increasingly complex interactions among operators, the regulator, and the public. In this context, the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP), in exercising its legal powers, plays a key role in market regulation and supervision, the administration of limited resources such as radio frequency spectrum and numbering, the guarantee of fair competition among operators, the protection of end-user rights, as well as the monitoring of service quality and compliance with legal obligations by authorized entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resolution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout 2025, AKEP prioritized the implementation of the recommendations set forth in the Assembly\u2019s Resolution; out of the 11 recommendations issued for 2025, 10 have been implemented or are undergoing continuous assessment, and the recommendation regarding the approval of secondary legislation is nearing finalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AKEP\u2019S COMMITMENT TO COMPLETING THE SUB-LEGAL FRAMEWORK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout 2025, AKEP continued its efforts to complete the regulatory framework in accordance with the requirements of the Law on Electronic Communications. Twelve regulatory acts were approved, while three additional sub-legal acts are currently in the approval process; these contribute to improving market functioning and strengthening supervisory mechanisms. Concurrently, AKEP is working on drafting further regulatory acts (five in total)\u2014a process supported by external expertise and assistance\u2014aimed at ensuring the full alignment of the regulatory framework with European standards and the latest sector developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The approval of these regulatory acts involved a public consultation process, serving as an essential mechanism to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and the quality of the regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The draft acts were published for consultation with market operators, public institutions, stakeholder organizations, and other interested parties, allowing their comments and recommendations to be taken into account during the decision-making process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expansion of 5G services in Albania:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The development of very high-capacity networks, including 5G mobile networks, is a strategic priority directly linked to economic growth, the improvement of public services, and increased market competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AKEP has undertaken a series of concrete actions to create a regulatory environment that accelerates investment in 5G networks and supporting infrastructure. The Authority has played an active inter-institutional role in facilitating and expediting administrative procedures for the installation and construction of 5G base stations and the rollout of fiber-optic networks, through regular communication and meetings with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE), the Municipality of Tirana, the Albanian Road Authority (ARRSH), the National Agency for Territorial Planning (AZHT), the Distribution System Operator (OSHEE), and market operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of monitoring the 5G infrastructure rollout and ensuring compliance with the conditions of their Individual Authorizations, AKEP has tracked the progress of mobile network operators in implementing their 5G service coverage plans, as well as coverage for areas of particular importance\u2014such as ports, airports, tourist zones, national roads, and tunnels along national transport corridors. Mobile network operators have continued to expand their 5G networks in accordance with the coverage obligations stipulated in their Individual Authorizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2G\/3G\/4G Coverage and Service Quality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to expanding 5G networks, mobile operators continue to make significant investments in providing 2G and 4G services to improve signal coverage across the country. Reports for 2025 indicate that 4G network coverage has reached approximately 97% of the territory and about 100% of the population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of its service quality monitoring, AKEP has conducted systematic measurements of key quality indicators\u2014both in accordance with the annual monitoring plan and on an ad-hoc basis in response to complaints filed by public institutions or individual citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interference<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During the reporting period, AKEP also continued to manage and monitor radio frequency spectrum usage, coordinate internationally with counterpart administrations to prevent cross-border interference, and oversea compliance with the technical conditions of individual frequency usage authorizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To safeguard the public interest, AKEP has prioritized interference complaints submitted to the institution and has collaborated closely with operators to resolve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During 2025, the Authority handled:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 15 complaints regarding interference from mobile network operators;<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 2 complaints regarding interference affecting aeronautical services, filed by Albcontrol;<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 2 complaints regarding cross-border interference affecting aeronautical services, filed by the Italian and Montenegrian administrations and caused by FM transmissions in Albania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These instances of interference were promptly addressed by AKEP\u2019s technical staff and fully resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 700 MHz Band<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One issue that remained unresolved during 2025 concerns the failure to clear the 700 MHz frequency band, which continues to be used by audiovisual broadcasting operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subsequently, in April 2026, an inter-institutional working group was established by order of the Prime Minister to coordinate the process of clearing the DD2 band; this group is supported by a technical secretariat. The technical secretariat has prepared a draft law “On the clearing of Digital Dividend II (DD2) frequencies,” which mandates AMA to complete the migration process no later than six months after the law’s entry into force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bloming of the Internet Usage and Market Development<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The increased use of electronic communication services and the expansion of internet access reflect positive market dynamics, while strengthening consumer protection and enhancing transparency have remained central to the Authority’s focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the end of 2025, the number of active mobile internet subscribers stood at approximately 2.1 million (representing over 88% of Albania’s total population), signaling a stabilization of this figure compared to the preceding two years. Despite this stability in user numbers, mobile data traffic saw significant growth in terms of service usage, reaching approximately 260 million GB\u2014an increase of over 16% compared to 2024 and nearly triple the volume recorded in 2020 (approximately 89 million GB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Internet consumption while roaming in Western Balkan (WB) countries also saw marked growth, reaching over 1.6 million GB in 2025; this represents an increase of approximately 35% compared to 2024 and more than an eightfold rise compared to 2021 (200,000 GB). By the end of 2025, the Albanian fixed broadband internet market counts approximately 733,000 subscribers, with a rate reaching 97% of Albanian households. The sector’s rapid development has been driven primarily by investments in fiber optics, which now account of 75% of all fixed internet connections. This growth has yielded significant benefits for citizens regarding service access and pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2025, data traffic on fixed networks reached 2.08 billion GB, marking a 17% increase compared to 2024. This demonstrates that citizens, businesses, and institutions are increasingly relying on digital services for communication, business, education, finance, healthcare, entertainment, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the end of 2025, subscribers with access speeds exceeding 30 Mbps accounted for approximately 89% of the total, up from about 84% in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the number of fixed broadband subscribers with access speeds exceeding 100 Mbps stood at 391,132 (approximately 53% of all subscribers), marking a substantial increase compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Figures reported by operators indicate that the electronic communications infrastructure in Albania has entered a new phase of development. During 2025, approximately 6,860 km of optical fiber (dark fiber), 133 km of conduits, and nearly 1,800 km of aerial networks shared among operators were reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Network Cable Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the context of the rapid development of the electronic communications network infrastructure, the time has come for aerial cable networks to be systematized and standardized. The presence of cables placed in an irregular manner in many urban areas not only negatively affects the aesthetics of cities, but also creates challenges in the administration, maintenance and further development of the infrastructure. Precisely for these reasons, during 2025 AKEP has undertaken an extensive consultation process with all institutions and stakeholders. Working meetings have been held with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, the Distribution System Operator, the Albanian Road Authority, the Albanian Development Fund, the Municipality of Tirana, as well as with national and local electronic communications operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result of this process, an action plan for the systematization of aerial cables has been drafted, identifying and defining in this document the administrative, technical measures and field actions that must be fulfilled by the parties involved in this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 24, 2026, the national initiative for the elimination of overhead electronic communications cables and their transition to underground infrastructure was presented, through cooperation between the Government, AKEP, municipalities, electronic communications operators, OSSH and other responsible institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AKEP has started work on coordinating the works, establishing contacts with all parties involved in the process and the implementation of the plan on the ground is expected in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Development of new technologies (electronic signature):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n AKEP has provided support in the development and implementation of innovative technologies and applications such as the application of electronic identification and signature (eSignature) in digital channels and at physical points of operators, which constitutes an important development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumer protection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumer protection has continued to be one of AKEP’s main priorities during 2025, through market monitoring, complaint handling and dispute resolution between users and providers of electronic and postal communications services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the adoption and updating of secondary legislation, such as the regulations on contract summary, the regulation on number portability, the guideline on open internet, etc., the aim is to guarantee transparency for the services provided, access and quality services in accordance with the regulatory practices of the European Union countries. During 2025, 394 complaints were filed with AKEP for electronic communications services, with a decrease of 59% compared to 2024, as well as 19 complaints for postal services. The year’s indicators demonstrate the improvement of the quality of services, the effectiveness of complaint handling mechanisms and the strengthening of consumer protection in the sectors regulated by AKEP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The analysis of the typology of complaints shows that the main problems of end-users of electronic communications services are mainly related to contractual and financial relations with operators, rather than to technical aspects of service quality. Complaints about billing and charging accounted for about 32% of the total, followed by complaints about mobile number portability with 31% and those about contracts and their termination with 19%. These three categories represent over 80% of all complaints administered by AKEP during 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most cases were addressed and resolved at the administrative stage, through AKEP intervention and cooperation with operators, through billing correction, fulfillment of contract termination requests, subscriber crediting or other concrete solutions. This approach has contributed both to the effective protection of end-user rights, as well as to the reduction of the number of complaints and the improvement of operators’ practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In parallel with the handling of individual complaints, AKEP has worked on the drafting and approval of the new sub-legal framework for the implementation of Law No. 54\/2024, aiming to strengthen the rights of end-users, increase transparency and address the problems identified in practice. During this period, the Regulation on Number Portability, the Regulation on the Model Contract Summary and the Open Internet Guide were adopted, while the new Draft Regulation on Consumer Protection was also published for public consultation. These acts establish new standards for pre-contractual and contractual information, clearer rules on number portability, transparency on the quality of internet access service and stronger guarantees for the protection of end-user rights, in accordance with European Union legislation and regulatory practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this way, AKEP has moved from a largely reactive approach, focused on handling complaints, towards a preventive approach, which aims to reduce the causes of complaints and disputes through increased transparency, strengthening end-user rights and establishing clearer rules for the provision of services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AKEP, within the framework of the supervision of commercial practices and consumer protection issues, has been in continuous communication with operators on issues related to the application of the price indexation clause (PIK), the content of packages offered for low-consumption tariff plans, as well as practices related to the validity period of cards\/treatment of unused credit<\/p>\n\n\n\n The operators have committed to the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 they will launch several new economic packages for low-income customers, people with disabilities and seniors over 62 years of age,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 they will reconfigure the content of low-priced packages, increasing internet units from 50 Mbps to 500 Mbps,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 they will reduce the standard tariff for calls to prepaid numbers from 39 lek\/min to 29 lek\/min (a 26% reduction), making voice services more affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 They will compensate subscribers in case of delays or irregularities in the number porting process (according to the new portability regulation).- They will reimburse unused credits in the case of number porting. So, when citizens port their number, they have the right to request reimbursement of the remaining credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Development of the postal sector and improvement of standards.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During 2025, AKEP continued its commitment to the development of the postal sector and the improvement of service delivery standards, through market monitoring and continuous cooperation with postal service providers. As part of this commitment, meetings and consultative roundtables were organized with market operators, with a focus on improving the quality of services, guaranteeing user rights and increasing transparency in the publication of information on tariffs and conditions of service provision, in accordance with the requirements of postal legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During 2025 and onwards, AKEP has also held meetings with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and the Albanian Post to address issues related to the economic sustainability of the provision of universal postal service, especially in relation to the tariffs applied for years. In April 2026, the Albanian Post notified AKEP of the change in several tariffs for universal and non-universal services, justified by the impact of inflation and the increased costs of providing the service. AKEP is currently in the evaluation phase of these tariffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Strategic priorities and objectives for 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Continuing work on the adoption of the remaining by-laws to enable the full implementation of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Efficient management of finite resources, frequencies, numbers, number series, domains;<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Protection of consumer rights and increased transparency in the provision of electronic and postal communications services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Coordination with local, central institutions and operators for the implementation of the cable network systematization plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Full harmonization of legislation within the framework of the integration process in the common Roaming area with the EU and coordination with mobile operators for the implementation of this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Implementation of new by-laws related to high-capacity networks (GiA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). Increasing technical capacities in the implementation of these acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During 2025, AKEP has played a crucial role in the modernization and development of the electronic communications and postal sector in Albania. Through regulatory decision-making, encouraging investment by operators and strengthening institutional capacities, the Authority has contributed to ensuring a more competitive, innovative and customer-oriented market. These developments lay a solid foundation for the further advancement of the country’s digital transformation and European integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Head of the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP), Mr. Gentian Sala, together with representatives of the institution, presented the 2025 annual activity report of AKEP to the Committee of Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Development. The report outlined key developments in the electronic and postal communications sector, measures taken to strengthen the regulatory […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":20245,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,42,45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-notifications-en","category-notifications","category-slideshow-en"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/akep.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_9063-1024x682.jpeg\")
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